Entered: 10/05/2014
Status: Rainbow Bridge
Age: 4
Color: Liver/White
Weight: 39 lbs.
Gender: Altered Female
Location: Goochland, VA
Health: UTD, HW+ and undergoing slow kill heartworm treatment, treatment for dual ear infections and a urinary tract infection complete
Temperament: Unsuitable for adoption
Update 03/31/15: “Unfortunately, Pippa’s behavior was not improving, and her MAESSR family, with great care and concern, helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge.”
Pippa spent the last six months in a loving MAESSR foster home receiving medical treatment for a positive heart worm condition, ear infections and a urinary tract infection. She also was being encouraged to display more positive interactions with her two legged family and foster brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, Pippa’s behavior was not improving, and her MAESSR family, with great care and concern, helped her cross the Rainbow Bridge.
Original: “Coming to MAESSR as a wild child that loves to have fun, Pippa is learning that sometimes she has to calm down.”
Pippa came to MAESSR from another rescue in North Carolina when it was felt she need more training than they could give her at this time.
Coming to MAESSR as a wild child that loves to have fun, Pippa is learning that sometimes she has to calm down and pay attention. Leash walking has been a struggle for her, but she has already come a long way. She now walks well on a loose lead most of the time. Good girl!
Pippa loves running free in her foster family’s fenced yard and can’t get enough of retrieving a tennis ball. Her human playmate needs to play with 2 balls: one to throw and the other to hold so she will drop the first one!
During her in-home spa treatment, Pippa was fine in the bath and seemed to enjoy it. She did not have the same positive feelings about having her body brushed, though. She will grab a slicker or regular brush and not let her foster mom use them. She also does not like to have the hair on her feet trimmed. Speaking in her defense, she has done well for having her ears cleaned and brushed. She is currently being treated for an ear infection in both ears.
Pippa has had a few accidents in her foster home. She is being treated for a urinary tract infection and it is thought the accidents will go away as she starts to feel better. Her foster mom has already seen a decrease in the number of accidents.
Her foster mom quickly noticed that Pippa was anxious about new situations and new people. After speaking to the vet about this, it was decided that Pippa should start taking an inexpensive medication to help reduce her anxiety. When she is anxious, she amps up her “crazy” behaviors. The medication has already made a BIG difference.
When her heartworm test came back positive, Pippa’s vet began treating her with the “slow-kill” method to rid her of heartworms. The “slow-kill” method involves giving the infected dog monthly Heartgard tabs over the course of a year. (Doxyclycline therapy is sometimes done as part of the treatment as well.) At the end of the year, the dog is re-tested for heartworms. MAESSR will supply the medication to the dog’s adoptive family and will pay for the follow-up vet visit and heartworm test. Although most dogs are heartworm-free after one year, MAESSR will pay for another year of treatment if the dog is still heartworm positive.
Pippa is a sweetheart. She has done well with all of the people in her foster home. Although she had a couple of scuffles with other dogs in her foster home when she first came in, she is calmer and getting along with everyone.
Watch for more on this little love as she progresses with her health treatments.